PDD NORTHEAST COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING
Saturday,
September 15, 2002 8:30 am –2:00
pm
Westlock Inn
Boardroom, Westlock, Alberta
APPROVED
Present:
Don Schultz, Chair; Donna Desjardins, Vice-Chair; Ralph Gorrie; Johanne Hassey; Christine Botsford, Laurel Morris-Duncan, Dr. Doug Fleming,
Administration: Dr. Alex Hillyard, CEO; Lucille Froese, Recording Secretary.
Absent:
Carmela Levesque away for personal reasons.
Guests:
Viviane Widdifield, Executive Director, ECHOS; Ann Nicol, Vice President, WJS Alberta, Joanna Wylie, WJS Alberta; Helene Yarmuch, WJS Alberta; Heather Halpenny, Community Service Developer, PDD; Lori Skinner, Community Service Developer, PDD.
A.
Don Schultz, Chair,
called the meeting to order at 8:30 am, September 15th, 2002.
#02-09-528 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board approve the
agenda.
Carried unanimously.
C. Approval of Minutes
#02-09-529 MOTION: Donna Desjardins moved the Board approve the
minutes. Carried unanimously.
D. Board Regional Feedback and Future Direction
Presentation by Viviane Widdifield, Executive Director, ECHOS
·
Viviane thanked
the Board and administration for all the work they do.
·
ECHOS has
worked with PDD on a number of different initiatives. Some examples are the
Plain Language Initiative, Professional Development Committee, and Person
Centered Planning workshops. All are examples of how community governance does
work.
·
ECHOS was
funded by PDD through general contracts and Individual Funding Agreements. All
supports are focused on the individual and how they perceive their life and how
they want to grow and learn.
·
ECHOS helps
people to access their community and the choices they want to make.
·
Person Centered
Planning – ECHOS Path
·
The path was
presented in a beautiful art montage.
·
The first thing
was to define what is the North Star (what is the dream). This was taken from
ECHOS Vision. What do the people ECHOS provides support to see it as being? A
place of hope, even though there is frustration, hope is there.
·
The second part
is to explore the dream, set goals. How do we get there? Started with basic concepts - what needs to
happen to move towards the dream? What is a reasonable timeline that we can
work towards that everyone can agree upon? People would learn in public, be
involved in their community, and connections would include natural supports.
1.1
November 13th, Meeting of Community Council
Chairs: Debrief
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information
The Board discussed the meeting of the Community Council Chairs held on
September 13th, 2002 and opportunities for future meetings. A Summary of the Discussions and an Emerging Statement on Community Councils will be sent to all participants.
1.2
November 14th, Northeast Regional Strategic
Forum: Debrief
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information
The Board discussed the Strategic Planning Forum held on September 14th, 2002, which was very successful. A Summary of the Discussions will be sent to all participants.
1.3
Presentation of CET Certification to WJS Alberta
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Presentation of CET Certification Certificate
Don Schultz, Board Chair, presented a framed CET Certification Certificate to
Ann Nicol, Vice President, WJS Alberta.
1.4
4th Annual Northeast Regional Conference,
November 22-23, 2002: Update
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information
Donna Desjardins, Chair of the Conference Organizing Committee, updated the Board on the first Conference Organizing Committee meeting and plans for the conference. The conference format will be similar to last year.
The Conference theme is “Building Community Capacity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities – Opening Our Hearts, Our Minds, and Our Doors”.
The Board discussed topics for the conference sessions, presenters, invitations, and new ideas.
2.1
Northeast Community Online: Progress Report
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and discussion.
Heather Halpenny is acting as the project liaison and coordinator for the NorthEast Community Online project. Heather gave an overview of her background and updated the Board on what has occurred since the last report presented at the June Board meeting.
· Pizza Night Open Houses continue to draw participation in the NorthEast Community Online project.
· Permission has been sought from the Office of Learning Technology to extend the project for three months until March 31, 2002.
· Graduate students Rhonda Van De Keere in Barrhead and Shauna Burke in St. Paul offer computer coaching as well as assistance to people who want to write their stories to go on NE-Community Online.
· Arlene Hancock, Adaptive Technologist, has been asked to present a second offering of the On-Line Communication Facilitation Training workshop in the early fall.
· The new e-mail system and the new conference system that were installed appear to be working well.
#02-09-530 MOTION: Christine Botsford moved the Board
accept the report
for
information. Carried unanimously.
2.2
Community Development Project: Building Community
Capacity
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: To present a progress report on activities related to
this project.
Effective August 1, 2002 through a secondment arrangement with the office of Human Rights and Citizenship Branch, Heather Halpenny joined the staff reporting to the Board’s CEO as a Community Service Developer for approximately 6 days per month.
· Developing community based natural support models with an emphasis on service provider boards.
· The Board Development Program of the Volunteer Services Branch, Community Development shared their training needs assessment to assist with the development of Service Board Development initiative.
· A Board Development Survey will be sent to all members of Service Provider Boards within the Northeast Region.
· A leadership Development Survey has been sent to Service Provider CEOs.
· Establishing a framework for Governance Partnerships with Boards and Authorities.
·
The Director of Strategic Information and Libraries
will meet with the administration to start the process of establishing a
framework for partnership with the NorthEast libraries.
#02-09-531 MOTION: Christine Botsford moved the Board accept
the report
for
information. Carried unanimously.
2.3
Community Inclusion Project and Partnership with AACL:
Update
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and discussion.
Lori Skinner, Project Coordinator, gave the Board an update on two new projects in the Northeast region, Development of a Transition Planning Framework and a Regional Community Inclusion Network. These projects started as a result of community consultation and information received through the 3rd annual regional conference.
Update on the Development of a Transition Planning Framework – concerning the transition to inclusive post secondary education and other alternatives. This has involved meetings and discussions with Athabasca University, Portage College and Lakeland College. As a result, two young men will be participating in inclusive post secondary experiences this fall. Also, the foundational work has begun on producing a general framework for transition planning to post secondary educational institutions and other alternatives. Ongoing meetings are being held with parents and families in the region.
Regional Community Inclusion Network – connecting families throughout the region to both their local community councils as well as the AACL family network.
Lori is scheduled to present these projects at Community Council meetings over the next two months.
2.4
Northeast Alberta Community Board: Internal Audit Plan
for the year ending March 31st, 2003
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information
The Board reviewed and approved the proposed internal Audit Plan for the year ended March 31, 2002 submitted by the Northeast Audit Team.
The internal audit process provides valuable information to the administration regarding the execution and monitoring of financial transactions and agreements on behalf of the Board. The reports provided by the internal audit team also assist in the preparation of background information for the annual audit completed by the office of the Auditor General.
#02-09-532 MOTION: Donna Desjardins moved the Board accept the report
for information. Carried unanimously.
· Handled two informal appeals for the Provincial Board.
· Attended an Appeal Workshop at the Provincial Board on September 11th.
· Attended the Provincial Board meeting on September 12, 2002.
· October 3rd is the official opening of Community Awareness Month and the start of the time capsule.
· The group is made up of Provincial Board CEO, Community Board CEOs, AACL, AARC, Mental Health, Public Guardian, and Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
· November 13th, 14th, and 15th, the 8th National Supported Employment Conference in Calgary, Alberta
· We have been asked to do a presentation with the Provincial Board. Will be showcasing some Service Providers.
· Communication Framework: Power Point Presentation and Overheads
· Handed out to Board members.
#02-09-534 MOTION: Johanne Hassey moved the Board go In
Camera
at 8:30 am.
Carried unanimously.
#02-09-535 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board come out of
Camera
at 9:00 am. Carried
unanimously.
#02-09-536 MOTION: Ralph Gorrie moved the Board adjourn at
1:45 pm.
Carried
unanimously.
_________________________________ _________________________________
Don Schultz, Chair Dr. Alex Hillyard, CEO